CHAPTER 1616: CHAPTER 1616: CONTEST FOR THE BLADE

Qu Rui and Zhu Jingze tracked Fang Bai all the way here because of that Blood Blade.

Yet, there is only one Blood Blade, and both of them desire it; if one person obtains it, the other will surely fight to the death, inevitably leading to a life-and-death battle.

So the two agreed to first capture Fang Bai and acquire the Blood Blade; whoever could erase Fang Bai’s Divine Sense from the Blood Blade and control it skillfully would get to keep it.

The one who obtains the Blood Blade must provide enough cultivation resources as compensation to the one who doesn’t get it.

With their agreement in place, both pursued with their own thoughts.

"Kid, are you waiting for us?"

Qu Rui saw Fang Bai suspended in mid-air, facing them with a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth. First, he was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

"I think he knows he can’t escape, so he’s just waiting here to die!"

Zhu Jingze laughed with a "hehe".

Qu Rui said, "Alright Zhu, stop scaring him. As long as he is willing to hand over the Blood Blade, we can spare his life."

Zhu Jingze said, "That depends on whether he cooperates. If he obediently hands over the Blood Blade, we can spare his life! If he tries any tricks, we’ll obliterate his body and soul!"

Qu Rui said, "Kid, hand over the Blood Blade, and I’ll give you a King Grade Superior Spirit Artifact. Or the same grade cultivation resources! You can choose one!"

Qu Rui said this because, despite Fang Bai’s Soul Severing initial cultivation level, he gave Qu Rui a profound feeling, especially the mocking smile on Fang Bai’s lips, making him slightly nervous.

Moreover, he deduced Fang Bai’s Blood Blade to be a Royal Grade Spirit Artifact, which greatly aids a Martial Artist’s combat power, resulting in some apprehension. He thought it would be best to exchange cultivation resources for the Blood Blade without bloodshed.

Zhu Jingze, lacking Qu Rui’s depth and being more impulsive, said, "Qu, why talk nonsense with him? Just kill him with one palm and snatch his Space Ring! The Blood Blade must be in his ring!"

Qu Rui looked at Fang Bai, smiling and asking, "Well? Have you decided? Fight or peace, it’s up to you in one thought!"

Fang Bai’s expression changed slightly, seeming somewhat fearful, sighed, "I intended to fight you to the death to defend this Royal Grade Spirit Artifact of mine, but considering that I’m no match for you... fine, you want the Blood Blade, take it!"

Saying this, with a flash of red light, the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade appeared in his right hand.

"But, there is only one Blood Blade, so who should I give it to? If I give it to this one, what if that one wants to kill me?"

Fang Bai asked anxiously.

Zhu Jingze looked at the Blood Blade in his hand, eyes gleaming, waved him over eagerly, "Just give the Blood Blade to me! I swear on my honor, neither of us will harm you!"

Fang Bai pursed his lips, thinking to himself, you old rascal, what honor do you have? But he wouldn’t say this aloud, so he looked at Qu Rui and asked, "Really?"

Qu Rui’s eyes flickered with a bright light, then nodded, "We keep our word. As long as you hand over the Blood Blade, you can leave."

"Great! Catch!"

Fang Bai raised his right hand, and the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade flew toward Zhu Jingze, reaching him in the blink of an eye.

Zhu Jingze was overjoyed, reaching out to catch it.

At that moment, a strong sense of danger hit. Qu Rui, standing beside Zhu Jingze, barely ten yards away, turned suddenly, a black long blade appearing from nowhere in his hand, slashing toward Zhu Jingze like a black lightning strike.

The black long blade was made from Extraterrestrial Crow Meteorite Iron fused with dozens of rare materials from the Great World, heavy and incredibly sharp—Qu Rui’s personal Spirit Artifact, a King Grade Superior. Qu Rui rarely revealed it, but once drawn, it would taste blood.

Since Qu Rui crafted this Black Blade Spirit Instrument, countless strong ones had died under it.

"You treacherous old fool!"

Zhu Jingze never imagined Qu Rui would suddenly attack and do so with full force, clearly having plotted against him long in advance, realizing too late he was deceived.

Seeing the black lightning strike down, Zhu Jingze cursed, giving up on the Blood Blade, retreating rapidly, immediately distancing himself from the Blood Blade by over ten yards.

In that instant, the Blood Blade fell into Qu Rui’s hands.

"Zhu, you’re too naive when it comes to scheming! Haha, this Blood Blade is mine now!"

Qu Rui held the Black Blade in one hand and the Blood Blade in the other, thoroughly elated, unable to contain his triumphant laughter.

Zhu Jingze watched the Blood Blade, which should have been his, now in Qu Rui’s hand, seething with rage, shouted angrily, calling forth a pair of Iron Hammer Spirit Instruments, striking at Qu Rui furiously.

His pair of hammers were also King Grade Superior Spirit Instruments, weighing over ten thousand pounds together, immensely powerful, creating gales that made Qu Rui’s clothes flutter wildly.

"Clang!"

Against Zhu Jingze, an equally strong opponent, Qu Rui dared not be careless, raising the Black Blade in his left hand to block forcefully, causing sparks to fly and spiritual energy to spread dozens of yards around.

Since Qu Rui blocked single-handedly, he inevitably suffered a minor setback, his figure retreating further back.

"I’m done playing with you!"

Intending to take the Blood Blade and find a place to refine it, dealing with Zhu Jingze later, Qu Rui threw the Blood Blade into the Space Ring and fled.

Zhu Jingze was furious to the point of madness, wishing to eat him alive, refusing to let him go. He shouted, "Stop, you old thief!" and chased after him like a shooting star.

The two high-ranking Soul Severing experts fought over the Blood Blade, leaving its original owner, Fang Bai, aside, no longer paying him any attention.

In their chase and escape, neither paid heed to Fang Bai, following at a leisurely pace with an amused smile on his lips.

After a thousand miles, seeing he couldn’t shake off Zhu Jingze, Qu Rui turned to Zhu Jingze, "Wait! Zhu, I’ll give you all the cultivation resources in my Space Ring, and I’ll keep the Blood Blade. How’s that?"

Zhu Jingze, feeling deceived and deeply resentful, only wanted to reclaim the Blood Blade, and retorted angrily, "Old thief, you wish! If you don’t give me the Blood Blade, I’ll fight you to the death!"

Qu Rui flared up as well, sneering, "Think I’m afraid of you? Come on, let’s fight for three hundred rounds, and see who kills whom!"

As they spoke, they each summoned their Spirit Instruments, preparing to clash in mid-air for a grand duel.

Fang Bai hid his aura, standing miles away on a mountain peak, ingeniously avoiding their Divine Sense probe. Seeing them fighting again, he thought, "Fight! Just fight! It’d be best if both are defeated, saving me the effort!"